It was just two weeks ago when we learned from the tabloids that Papa Joe Simpson is (allegedly!) gay. He hasn’t “come out” or anything, and he hasn’t said anything publicly except for an oddly-worded joint statement with Tina Simpson when they announced their divorce (the same day that the gay story came out). Since then, Radar and The Enquirer have been running with the story with lots and lots of twists. Radar claimed that Joe had been playing sugar-daddy to a 21-year-old twink (you said I could use that term!) for a year, and The Enquirer had an interview with yet another man claiming to be Papa Joe’s gay lover. So, what has Papa Joe decided to do? Not much. Joe still isn’t issuing any direct statements to any media outlet, but TMZ did get this story:

Rumors be damned … a frustrated Joe Simpson is telling friends and colleagues the stories that he’s switched teams are absurd.

There have been several reports out recently that Joe has told his family he’s gay and that’s why his marriage fell apart. There are also reports about several guys he’s rumored to be dating/hooking up with.

Sources who speak with Joe tell TMZ … Jessica Simpson’s daddy says it ain’t so … that the stories are “ridiculous.”

The people we spoke with are split — some believe him, and some think he’s just not ready to come out publicly.

On a scale of Richard Gere’s Gerbil to John Travolta’s Hairpiece, what do you think of this half-assed, weak-assed denial? If people are really and truly lying about your sexuality and tabloids are running interviews with people claiming to have slept with you, wouldn’t you call your lawyers and sue? Wouldn’t you at least issue a direct denial? So, no, I don’t think much of this TMZ story. Joe wouldn’t even go on the record, probably because he still hasn’t decided what his next move will be. My guess is that Papa Joe will end up going Full Travolta and deny, deny, deny, but he just hasn’t gotten there yet.

Exactly what I was thinking. If for 2 weeks the media had been telling lies about me, you better believe I would have said something sooner. It’s not like it’s some absurd rumour that no one would believe either

Joe is a public figure. He features prominently in his daughters lives and marriages. He was on that Reality show. He gives interviews. He talks about his daughters breasts.

Also, 95% of stories on this site and other gossip sites are “family issues”. Whether its cheating, divorce, child custody issues, alleged bearding/merkin arrangments, drug or alcohol addictions – this stuff is none of our business. And yet I rarely ever read the “its their business” argument on them. Why is this argument reserved for closet stories? Why would that be more harmful than say reporting on an addiction?

YES! & tanned and has lost weight. THATS the picture that needs to be posted when this subject comes up, not old family pics. The new Joe is what’s denying it. Plus, the hypocrisy of him and the purity of his own daughters being such a huge deal, and being a cross wearing,Baptist minister…if he’s lying that makes him a lying , cross wearing Baptist minister, so it’s worse! It’s the hypocrisy that makes people turn on someone & lying to his family for their entire life…

Uh, you’re reading comprehension is off. Where do I say that because of that, it’s more likely that he’s gay? The fact that those things ARE stereotypes is going to feed into the speculation. If he really wanted to not feed into it, he’d know that feeding into a stereotype is not the way to do it.

I never paid attention before but I actually find Tina more beautiful than her daughters OT:. Even if he is gay, I really dont see the big deal now. The fact that he is denying it may make it harder for Tina and their daughters.

Trust me, family and close friends always know way before the person ever admits it!! If we only knew, Tina probably has not shared a bed with him for many years anyway. This is not news to them. Ask Pete Wentz or Nick, I am sure they knew!! You cannot hide that, not in H-wood. & If anybody would know, it would be Ken Paves! Ask them!! Try as they might, these guys that hide it are not kidding anybody. So, rest assured this is old news to his family!

THANK YOU. I agree completely. It’s his frickin business. We don’t own stock in him. Leave him to hell alone. Sure, it’s juicy gossip…but it’s also really messed up to be bullying and hounding him in this way. If he’s dealing with issues of his sexuality, isn’t that difficult enough to begin with? And private?

I tend to believe the story that he is gay, but I don’t care and it’s not my business, and I’d never malign someone for being gay. Gay is completely normal and fine. Funny all this pro-equality talk, but when it comes down to it we still bash people for being gay. Sick.

YES. It seems very hateful how the media is treating this, like he has something to be ashamed of. And worse still is he may not be gay at all and young kids that are gay are seeing how he’s being treated and think it’s something to be ashamed of. I don’t like it at all. Someone”s sexuality should not be such a big deal, especially someone who isn’t even famous.

I agree. But the media, public and even other gay people love to call people out and push them out of the closet. It’s so sad because it really is a decision that some people have to come to terms with, which in itself is also very sad because it really shouldn’t be a big deal. ugh and now I have a headache…

‘Ridiculous’ isn’t exactly a denial. A female friend of mine briefly dated a guy and people would comment that he was gay and he would say “that’s ridiculous.” So for me ‘ridiculous’ is code for probably gay.

Maybe he’s commenting that it’s ridiculous he’d have a 20 year old boy toy? But I agree with the posters above that it’s none of our business and it’s upsetting that the media is trying to force him out of the closet.

The cynic in me is betting he’s trying to protect Jessica’s WW endorsement also a comment @ CDAN claimed he’s getting a reality show not sure thats true but if so maybe he’s saving coming out for fodder….a simple no comment would have been better if he’s not backing up his claims with a suit.

So what if he’s gay. That’s his business. Like another poster above said, the family has probably known it for ages if he is. But, if he’s lying and stealing money from the family to pay for a boytoy or two I have a problem with that though.

Look, this guy used to be a pastor who preached against the lifestyle he may now lead…this will take some time before he can truly come out. My guess is that he will do a big magazine cover story with a sit-down interview. Or he may just ignore it all, like Barry Diller.

So are you claiming you heard a sermon in which he preached against homosexuality? Where and When did this occur? I’ve never heard of him discussing homosexuality at Heights Baptist. Church in Richardson when he was the youth minister.Where do you hear him discuss this topic? Just curious

ia Joe’s fug, but sometimes the same facial features don’t work equally well on males and females. The Willis girls all take after Bruce but they’re all unfortunate looking whereas Bruce quite handsome. Another example – Alexa Ray Joel: she looks almost exactly like Billy which you would think would be a disaster zone yet I actually think she’s very pretty, even pre-nosejob.

When it comes to celebrities, denials are meaningless. When they say nothing, everybody says the story is true. When the celebrity sues, everybody says the story is true because they are making a big deal about. Celebrities can’ win. I never heard gay rumors until a few weeks ago so it’s funny that all of sudden people say Joe definately is. I don’t know if he is but I’m suprised how much he’s being attacked for it. Especially when the source is NE. They get 0.01% of the stories right so it’s bizarre that people believe this.

It is hard to tell for sure but for some reason the stories doesn’t sound just random gossip. I never thought he is gay before these stories come out, may be because he was/ is married and have kids and has that over involved and over protective dad image with Jessica.
I hope all settle for them as what ever that they want it.